Means for attaching electric wall-sockets to walls.



G. T. MODONALD. v MEANS FOR A'I 'TAGHING ELECTRIC WALL SOCKETS TO WALLS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 30, 1910.

Patenfsed May 23, ;911."

62.4. ABM 35% bymy improved attaching means.

" a cross-section through 22 thereof. Fig.

walls andthe like and hereinafter. described and more 'pointed' out in-the ap ended claims. In'the drawings z CLARENCE. 'r. MQDQNALD,

' COMPANY, or CHICAGO,

01 OAK PA'RK, ILLINOISpASSIG'NbR TO FEDERAL ELECTRIC ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR ATTACHING ELECTRIC WAIIAL-SOCKETS T WALLS.

Specification of Letters Patent Application-filed July 30,1910. Serial No. 574,599.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE T.- M0 DoNALn, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of OakPark, in the county of Cook and State-0f Illinois, have invented "certain new and-useful Improvements in Means for Attaching Electric Wall-Sockets to lYalls"; andI do hereby declare that the --following is-afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,-and to the letters of referenceniarked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

n'lhis invention relates to an improved attach'ingmeans-yfor attaching lamp sockets-to consistsof the matters particularly igure 1 is a front elevationshowing' a socket (attached to a wall Fig. 2. is Fig. 1 on the line the line 3-3 thereof.

through Fig. 2 on section through Fig. 2

Fig. 4i is a transverse on the-line 4- 4 thereof. Fig. 5 is a partial 1 section through Fig. 4 on thereof. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the I vlocking member. .30.

the line 5-5 Myimproved attachingmeans is shown hereln a's'used in connection with acup genwhich is adapted to receive .rally known as an outlet box within the wall when closed on side by an apertured cap the wall socket. permanently secured the wall is built and into said cup are led the mains which are intended to supply current to the socket.

its front orouter The cup and cap are The socket is adapted to be inserted through theapertureof. the cap and is provided with ashoulder which abuts against the outer face ofthe'cap and locking member projecting laterally from which, co-acts with a the/socket bodyat the rear of said shoulder and being adapted to engage against the ,inner face-ofthe cap after the socket is in place so "as to. aperture, sa;d'

locking member being confstructed to yield toward the socket body 3 is a vertical section loclethe socket within said when the same is inserted through said aperture.

Patented May 23, 1911.

10 indicates'the cup; 11, the captand 12, v

the wall comprising the lath 12 and the plaster 12". dric and has a rear wall 10.- opposed apertures 10* are provided inthe cylindric wall of the cap for the passage of the mains 13. It is preferable" to provide additional apertures 10? which may becovered by disks or plates 10? secured in place by solder or otherwise/and adapted. to be I'1'l10"(l to open the apertures in case the.

wires run vertically instead of horizontally as illustrated. a

The cap 11 has a flat base 11, a conical body 11), and a flange 11 at the front which incloses the aperture 11 through which the socket is inserted. The cup is provided with internally disposed'lugs 14m receive bolts 15 by means of which thecap is secured to the cup. Said bolts pass,t-hrough slots 15 in the base of the cap. .This construction permits a slight adjustment ofthe cap with reference to the cup. It is to be understood that the cap and cup are built into the wall draw them out and attach them to the socket, before the latter is inserted into the cup.

15 is,a socket. construction and in the example illustrated consists of a recessed plug 16 having a radially extending annular shoulder 17 adapted to engage agamst the flange 11 of the cap and a substantially cylindric body to fit within the aperture of the cap.

adapted With- ,The cup 10 is preferably fcylin Diametrically,

with the mains 1 3 projecting into the cup, there being suflicient slack in the wires to It may be of any usual inthe recess of the plug is secured a contact shell 19 and a central contact20. Theron- 'tact shell 19 is provided with a fiange19 at its base which is attachedin place. by means of screws-20 which pass through recesses 20" formed in therear face of 'theblock. Said recesses are preferably filled at the rear with cement. or other'material21.

22 is a terminal which passes through an opening 22 of the shell contact and is.pro-

vided with a horse-shoe 22* at its lower end,

Suitable apertures are provided in the wallsof the plug to permit the insertion of the terminals. These connections may be of any usual or convenient construction but those illustrated are preferable and are the simplest, I

26 is anaperture in the base of the plug corresponding with a central aperture in the central contact. Said aperture is of two diameters, being larger at its outer end .to receive the head of a screw 27 and smaller at its inner end to receive the shank of said screw.

28 is a locking member which is located in a transverse groove 29 formed 1n the rear end of the plug and having oppositely disposed longitudinal branches 29 formed in the outer surface of the plug. Said locking member is of U-shape and is-made of spring metal. It is secured in place by means of the screw 27. When the socketis properly fixed in the wall the ends 28 of the locking member engage against the inner face of the 30 flange "11 of the'c'ap 11. It is thus apparent that the locking member will co-act wlth the shoulder 17 to hold the lamp socket member in position within the cap.

Toinsert the socket and properly secure it in position the line wires are pulled out of the cup through the aperture 11 of th cap 7 and are connected to the terminals 22, 3 of the socket in. the usual manner. The screw 27 is loosened so as to permit some play of the locking member 28 and the socket is then pushed into the recess in the cap, the spring ends 28 of the locking member being sprung into their associated grooves so as; to permit them to pass through the aperture in the ,cap. As soon as these ends pass the edge of the flange 11 said spring. ends spring outwardly and engage against the rear face of the cap. By means of. a small screw-driver the screw 27 is then tightened which draws the ends of the locking member against the flange 11 of the cap 11 and the flange 17 of the plug against the outer face of said flange.-. This secures the parts inposition. In order to guide the socket plug into the recess in proper relation to the line wires it is preferable to provide on the body of the socket a longitudinal lug 30 which is adapted to engage a notch 30 in the flange of the cap.

To withdraw the socket from the receptacle it is simply required to disengage the screw 27 from its connection with the transverse member, of the locking device 28,

'member provided with an aperture, a member to'besupported having a body adapted to fit within said aperture, said body having a "fixed part adapted to abut against an outwardly facing surface of said supporting member, means carried by said body adapted to abut against an inwardly facing surface of said supporting member when -said body isin-final position Within said aperture, said means being constructed to yield laterally toward said body when the same is insertedthrough said aperture, and a memberoperable from the front of said body for securing' said laterally yielding means to said receptacle. I

2. In combination with an electric receptacle, a supporting plate provided. with an aperture to receive said electric receptacle, said receptacle having afixed part adapted to engage an outwardly'facing surface of said plate, laterally movable means carried by said receptacle adapted to engage against a rearwardly facing surface of said, plate when said receptacle is in position within said aperture, and a member operable from the front end of the receptacle for securing saidlaterally movable means .to said receptacle. v 3. In combination with a member to be supported having a body, a supporting cap or plate provided with an aperture adapted to receive said body, said bodyhaving a fixed part adapted to engage the outer surface of said cap or plate, a U-shaped locking member 'removably secured to said body, said locking member having free ends adapted to yield toward said body when the same is inserted in the aperture of said plate or cap} and to engage the inner face of said cap to lock the body in position, and means operable from the front of said body adapted to secure said locking member to said body. v

4. In combination with 'a socket, a cap provided with an aperture, said socket embracing a body adapted to fit Witlllll said aperture of the cap, a shoulder formed on said body adapted to abut against the outer faceof said cap, said socket body having diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves .mit said longitu yield into said longitndinal grooves to per- In testimony, that I, elaim the foregoing through the aperture in said cap, and means presence of two witnesses, this 23rd day of operable from the front of the socket adept- July A. D. 1910.

ed to secure the cross member of said locking CLARENCE T. MCDONALD. device to the socket body whereby its free Witnesses:

ends are clamped against the inner face of GEO. R. WILKINs,

said cap. T. H. ALFREDS.

inal members to pass as my invention I aflix my signature in the 10 

